IT’S still not quite the end of February and Mark Johnston already has 27 winners on the board in 2010.

Furthermore, he is currently maintaining a strike-rate of a remarkable 35 per cent. Is it any wonder that he is a punter’s favourite?

The North Yorkshire trainer is out on his own in Britain as a producer of winners, runs a 12-months-a-year operation from his massive Kingsley House yard at Middleham and rarely does an all-weather meeting go by during the winter at which he is not represented. Tomorrow is no exception.

Johnston sends runners to both Lingfield in the afternoon and Kempton’s evening fixture and looks likely to add to his tally of winners at both venues.

At Lingfield, Whippers Love can do the business in the Marriott Hotel Handicap.

Having his first outing since last October, Whippers Love won at Wolverhampton just under three weeks ago. He looks capable of further improvement on the back of that run and top weight may not prove to be a barrier to him in this ten furlong event.

At Kempton, Johnston can score with Exemplary and Seamster.

The latter won at Southwell last month on his first appearance of the year. He has been raised 4lb for that all the way success and looks capable of remaining competitive off his revised mark in the Bistro In The Panoramic Handicap.

Exemplary ran only three times as a juvenile and won on the third of them, at Bath in the autumn.

He makes his reappearance in the digibet Sports Betting Handicap and commands plenty of respect particularly as it is unlikely that, despite the lack of a recent race, he will be found wanting in the fitness department.

Sutton Veny gets the vote in Kempton’s digibet.com Handicap. Jeremy Gask’s progressive filly has won her last two races on this course and looks to be keeping pace with the handicapper. She is fancied to complete her hat-trick.

Franco Is My Name also has good prospects of rattling up a hat-trick.

He goes for the Goffs Breeze-Up At Kempton March 12th Handicap after a brace of recent wins at Wolverhampton.

Back at Lingfield and the nap vote goes to Satwa Gold in the Bet Multiples – Betdaq Handicap.

A winner here already this season, Stef Liddiard’s tough four-year-old went down narrowly to Alsadaa at Kempton last time. A return to winning form is expected tomorrow.

The promising Noble Greek (1.40), the mount of Robert Winston, and the in-form Bishopbriggs (2.10) are two others to note on the afternoon card.

• Tourism promoters Welcome To Yorkshire will sponsor this year’s popular Middleham Stables Open Day, which will be held on Good Friday, April 2.


Racing selections

Lingfield
1.40 Noble Greek, 2.10 Bishopbriggs, 2.45 Fong’s Alibi, 3.20 Whippers Love, 3.55 Handsome Cross, 4.25 Satwa Gold (NAP), 4.55 Miss Lesley.

Kempton
5.30 Franco Is My Name, 6.00 Brave Talk, 6.30 Espy, 7.00 Sutton Veny, 7.30 Exemplary, 8.00 Seamster, 8.30 Motu.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Doncaster and Ludlow.

Today’s meetings:
Lingfield, Southwell (subject to 8am inpsection) and Taunton.